The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
M T Hoffman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the influence of ecosystem goods and services on Livestock Management practices on the bokkeveld plateau south africa
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2007Co-Authors: Patrick J Ofarrell, John S Donaldson, M T HoffmanAbstract:In the biodiversity rich regions of western South Africa transhumance grazing strategies were practised for thousands of years. Today only vestiges of these systems remain with private ownership restricting seasonal mobility. Cultivation practices have created a mosaic landscape transforming the resource base, and we have a limited understanding of Livestock Management practices and the relative value of all landscape components. Ecosystem goods and services assessments provide a framework which directly links the human economy, natural assets and ecological functioning. The aim in this study was to understand how farmers perceive the availability of goods and services in a heterogeneous environment, whether different vegetation types are providing different services for Livestock or the same ones at different times. We use semi-structure interviews to document the current grazing strategies, and then tested perceived benefits by comparing differences in vegetation types according to structure, productivity and biomass, leaf mineral content and phenology. We found that vegetation types differ in their structure and therefore ability to provide shelter. There were limited differences in productivity and mineral content associated with feed and nutrition, and seasonal growth patterns were found to be very similar for all vegetation types. We conclude that Livestock Management strategies are strongly influenced by ecosystem disservices with farmers avoiding poisonous plants and boggy areas at certain times of the year. Furthermore Livestock Management patterns are also influenced by alternative production activities which heterogeneous landscapes provide including flower tourism and wheat production. Our study points to the need to consider the full farm economy when determining the links between ecosystem goods and services and Livestock production.
Luiz F. Pires - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Micromorphological analysis of soil porosity under integrated crop-Livestock Management systems
Soil and Tillage Research, 2021Co-Authors: Aline Mari Huf Dos Reis, André Carlos Auler, Robson André Armindo, Miguel Cooper, Luiz F. PiresAbstract:Abstract Integrate crop-Livestock systems has been an efficient alternative for food production contributing to environmental sustainability and soil conservation. The objective of this study was to characterize some micromorphological properties of a Humic Rhodic Hapludox in integrated production systems. For this, four soil tillage systems were evaluated: conventional (CT), minimum (MT), no-tillage (NT), and chiseled no-tillage (CNT), under two annual ryegrass uses: grazing (G) and silage (S) at two soil depths (0–0.10 m and 0.10–0.20 m). Information about the size and shape distribution of the pores were obtained through the micromorphological analysis to determine the imagery porosity. The smallest porosities were found in the top-layer, independent of the Management systems and ryegrass usages. The complex shaped pores of larger sizes (>1000 μm) had the greatest contribution to the imagery porosity in the sub-layer, although they were less frequent in the top-layer. Complex shaped pores were compressed due to the contrasting Managements employed, decreasing their area and, consequently, influencing the fragmentation of this type of pores. As consequence, there was an increase in the amount of rounded shaped pores, especially ranging from 100 to 500 μm. The CNT Management system improved the soil structure based on the results of porosity as well as the shape and size distributions of the pores.
Robert Mendelsohn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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adapting to climate change mosaically an analysis of african Livestock Management by agro ecological zones
B E Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2009Co-Authors: Niggol S Seo, Ariel Dinar, Robert Mendelsohn, Pradeep KurukulasuriyaAbstract:This paper examines African Livestock Management across Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) to learn how they would adapt to climate change in the coming century. We analyze farm level decisions to own Livestock and to choose a primary Livestock species using logit models with and without country fixed effects or AEZ fixed effects. With a hot dry scenario, the results indicate that Livestock ownership will increase slightly across all of Africa, but especially in West Africa and high elevation AEZs. Dairy cattle will decrease in semi-arid regions, sheep will increase in lowlands, and rearing chickens will increase at high elevations. On the other hand, if climate becomes wetter, Livestock ownership will fall dramatically in lowlands and high elevation moist AEZs. Beef cattle will increase and sheep will fall in dry AEZs, dairy cattle will fall precipitously and goats will rise in moist AEZs, and chickens will increase at high elevations but fall at mid elevations. Therefore, adaptation measures should be tailored to a specific AEZ.
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differential adaptation strategies by agro ecological zones in african Livestock Management
Research Papers in Economics, 2008Co-Authors: Niggol S Seo, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Robert Mendelsohn, Ariel DinarAbstract:This paper examines how farmers have adapted their Livestock operation to the current climate in each agro-ecological zone in Africa. The authors examine how climate has affected the farmer's choice to raise Livestock or not and the choice of animal species. To measure adaptation, the analysis regresses the farmer's choice on climate, soil, water flow, and socio-economic variables. The findings show that climate does in fact affect the farmer's decision about whether to raise Livestock and the species. The paper also simulates how future climates may alter these decisions using forecasts from climate models and the estimated model. With a hot dry scenario, Livestock ownership will increase slightly across all of Africa, but especially in West Africa and high elevation agro-ecological zones. Dairy cattle will decrease in semi-arid regions, sheep will increase in the lowlands, and chickens will increase at high elevations. With a mild and wet scenario, however, Livestock adoption will fall dramatically in lowland and high latitude moist agro-ecological zones. Beef cattle will increase and sheep will fall in dry zones, dairy cattle will fall precipitously and goats will rise in moist zones, and chickens will increase at high elevations but fall at mid elevations. Livestock adaptations depend on the climate scenario and will vary across the landscape. Agro-ecological zones are a useful way to capture how these changes differ from place to place.
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measuring impacts and adaptations to climate change a structural ricardian model of african Livestock Management
Agricultural Economics, 2008Co-Authors: Robert MendelsohnAbstract:This article develops a new cross-sectional methodology that explicitly incorporates adaptation into an analysis of the impacts of climate change. The methodology examines how a farmer will change choices of species and number to adapt to climate. The approach is applied to study Africa, where the impacts of climate change are expected to be the most severe. The results indicate that in warmer places, African farmers switch from beef cattle to more heat-tolerant goats and sheep. In wetter places, farmers switch from cattle and sheep to goats and chickens. The results indicate that large commercial Livestock operations specializing in beef cattle will be hard hit from climate change whereas small farmers who can easily substitute to goats and/or sheep will be more resilient. Copyright 2008 International Association of Agricultural Economists.
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measuring impacts and adaptations to climate change a structural ricardian model of african Livestock Management
Agricultural Economics, 2008Co-Authors: Niggol S Seo, Robert MendelsohnAbstract:This article develops a new cross-sectional methodology that explicitly incorporates adaptation into an analysis of the impacts of climate change. The methodology examines how a farmer will change choices of species and number to adapt to climate. The approach is applied to study Africa, where the impacts of climate change are expected to be the most severe. The results indicate that in warmer places, African farmers switch from beef cattle to more heat-tolerant goats and sheep. In wetter places, farmers switch from cattle and sheep to goats and chickens. The results indicate that large commercial Livestock operations specializing in beef cattle will be hard hit from climate change whereas small farmers who can easily substitute to goats and/or sheep will be more resilient.
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the impact of climate change on Livestock Management in africa a structural ricardian analysis
Social Science Research Network, 2007Co-Authors: Sungno Niggol Seo, Robert MendelsohnAbstract:This paper develops the structural Ricardian method, a new approach to modeling agricultural performance using cross-sectional evidence, and uses the method to study animal husbandry in Africa. The model is intended to estimate the structure beneath Ricardian results in order to understand how farmers change their behavior in response to climate. A survey of over 5,000 Livestock farmers in 10 countries reveals that the selection of species, the net income per animal, and the number of animals are all highly dependent on climate. As climate warms, net income across all animals will fall, especially across beef cattle. The fall in net income causes African farmers to reduce the number of animals on their farms. The fall in relative revenues also causes them to shift away from beef cattle and toward sheep and goats. All farmers will lose income but the most vulnerable farms are large African farms that currently specialize in beef cattle. Small Livestock and large Livestock farms respond to climates differently. Small farms are diversified, relying on dairy cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens. Large farms specialize in dairy and beef cattle. Estimating a separate multinomial logit selection model for small and large farms reveals that the two types of farm choose species differently and specifically have different climate response functions. The regressions of the number of animals also reveal that large farms are more responsive to climate. The results indicate that warming will be harmful to commercial Livestock owners, especially cattle owners. Owners of commercial Livestock farms have few alternatives either in crops or other animal species. In contrast, small Livestock farms are better able to adapt to warming or precipitation increases by switching to heat tolerant animals or crops. Livestock operations will be a safety valve for small farmers if warming or drought causes their crops to fail.
Hans Bauer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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peri urban spotted hyena crocuta crocuta in northern ethiopia diet economic impact and abundance
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2011Co-Authors: Gidey Yirga Abay, Kindeya Gebrihiwot, Hans Bauer, Jozef DeckersAbstract:Global declines of carnivores are related to difficult integration with human land use, in particular conflicts caused by Livestock depredation. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) live in remarkably close proximity to humans in the degraded and prey-depleted Enderta district, northern Ethiopia. Their diet and interaction with people were investigated in sub-districts close to the regional capital, Mekelle. We interviewed 1,686 randomly selected households from three sub-districts, Debri, Aynalem, and Felege Selam, about Livestock Management and incidence of depredation from 2005 to 2009. Livestock loss amounted to 492 heads over 5 years; an annual mean of 0.6% worth US$ 7,042. We also performed a survey giving a minimum population estimate of 60 hyenas in the three sub-districts; all but four were found in church forests where they are traditionally tolerated and protected. A total of 1,200 hyena scats were analyzed to determine prey species; the diet contained only domestic species, with sheep being by far the most common prey species. About 5.5% of fecal analysis contained human hairs. We conclude that hyenas depended entirely on domestic prey species, partly through depredation but more importantly through scavenging on (peri-) urban waste. Under the particular local circumstances, continued coexistence appears possible, provided that damage remains tolerable.
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Livestock depredation of the spotted hyena crocuta crocuta in southern tigray northern ethiopia
International journal of ecology and environmental sciences, 2010Co-Authors: Gidey Yirga, Hans BauerAbstract:A household survey was conducted with an intention to quantify Livestock losses resulted from depredation of the spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ), diseases and theft in southern Tigray, Ethiopia from October to December, 2009. Our intensive survey canvassed 1100 randomly selected households from two sub-districts (Debri and Felege Selam) of the Endreta district. Respondents were asked questions relating number of Livestock owned, Livestock Management, number of Livestock lost to predation by hyenas, diseases and theft between 2005 and 2009, human attacks and vulnerable Livestock species to hyena predation. To quantify the economic cost of Livestock lost, the species, age, number and sex of Livestock losses were recorded and estimates of current average market values of these classes of Livestock species were obtained from traders. Values were translated in to US$ at the exchange rate of the time of the study. Surveyed households reported losses of 1039 domestic animals due to predation, disease and theft over the last five years. The average annual depredation resulted in an estimated economic loss of about US$ 5401. Hyena attacks on Livestock represent an economic concern for Livestock owners which were blamed for 11.8% of all reported Livestock losses. The total estimated economic loss caused by diseases, theft and depredation was about US$ 229,104, representing 85.5%, 2.7% and 11.8%, respectively. On average, US$ 45,820 per year (US$ 125 per day) has been lost. Hyena attacks reported were not in proportion to the relative abundance of Livestock species. Donkeys were significantly more likely to be reported as lost to hyena predation, representing 67.8%, followed by goats (16.7%) and sheep (10.5%). Our results suggested that simple improvements in Livestock Management practices would help mitigate human-hyena conflicts.
Patrick J Ofarrell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the influence of ecosystem goods and services on Livestock Management practices on the bokkeveld plateau south africa
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2007Co-Authors: Patrick J Ofarrell, John S Donaldson, M T HoffmanAbstract:In the biodiversity rich regions of western South Africa transhumance grazing strategies were practised for thousands of years. Today only vestiges of these systems remain with private ownership restricting seasonal mobility. Cultivation practices have created a mosaic landscape transforming the resource base, and we have a limited understanding of Livestock Management practices and the relative value of all landscape components. Ecosystem goods and services assessments provide a framework which directly links the human economy, natural assets and ecological functioning. The aim in this study was to understand how farmers perceive the availability of goods and services in a heterogeneous environment, whether different vegetation types are providing different services for Livestock or the same ones at different times. We use semi-structure interviews to document the current grazing strategies, and then tested perceived benefits by comparing differences in vegetation types according to structure, productivity and biomass, leaf mineral content and phenology. We found that vegetation types differ in their structure and therefore ability to provide shelter. There were limited differences in productivity and mineral content associated with feed and nutrition, and seasonal growth patterns were found to be very similar for all vegetation types. We conclude that Livestock Management strategies are strongly influenced by ecosystem disservices with farmers avoiding poisonous plants and boggy areas at certain times of the year. Furthermore Livestock Management patterns are also influenced by alternative production activities which heterogeneous landscapes provide including flower tourism and wheat production. Our study points to the need to consider the full farm economy when determining the links between ecosystem goods and services and Livestock production.